Soap frame



Aug. 4, 1931. E. R. LUCKOW 1,817,157

SOAP FRAME Filed Nov. 25, 1929 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 7 [FZYEZW [43F 1 fZmerB.1154611040? 0 I 5" 5 (I; E.

Aug. 4, 1931. E. R. LUCKOW SOAP FRAME 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Nov. 25,1929 EYE-Z77 =7? ZZmerJQ, .Z aow:

E. R. LUCKOW SOAP FRAME Aug. 4, 1931.

5 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Nov. 25, 1929 Evan! 11 lacow;

Patented Aug. 4, 1931 UNrren srA Es PATENT OFFICE ELMER R. LUCKOW, OFCHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR IO ALLEN B. VJ'RISLEY 00., OF CHICAGO,ILLINOIS, A CORPORATION OF ILLINOIS SOAP FRAME Application filedNovember 25, 1929. Serial No. 409,649.

Soap is usually made up of a mixture of cocoanut oil or other suitableoil and caustic soda solution in desired proportions, which are mixedtogether in a crutcher until a permanent emulsion is formed. After thepermanent emulsion is formed in the crutchcr, the mixture is run into asoap frame in which a sa 'lonitication reaction takes place and iscompleted within the frame where the temperature of the mixture rises,due to the chemi cal reaction, causing the soap to expand and graduallycool, with a portion of the formed soap expanding above the top of theframe, at which portion the block of soap usually cracks, therebyproviding a waste section at the upper portion of the formed block ofsoap.

Heretofore, in the manufacture of soap, soap frames have been used of atype consisting of a truck bottom or base upon which removable side andend members are adapted to be assembled and clamped in position upon thebottom truck to afford a housing for the reception of a soap mixture oremulsion received from a crutcher. lVith this type of soap frame, it hasbeen found necessary to obviate leakage by rigidlyclamping the sides andthe ends together upon the bottom truck and then caulking up the groovesbetween the s des, ends and the bottom truck with green soap or thelike, which operation requires a considerable length of time and must bevery carefully done to insure good results. After saponification hasbeen completed and the block of soap has sufficiently cooled within thesoap frame, it is necessary to remove the frame sid s and ends from thesoap frame truck bottom and from the block of formed soap. Thisoperation requires that all of the filling inserted in the seams of theframe first be removed, after which it is necessary to strip the sideand then the end members of the frame away from the block of soap. Inperforming this operation, considerable trouble experienced in that thesoap adheres'to the side and end members of the frame, therebynecessitating the use of wedges or other cutting devices for cutting orseparating the block of soap from the side and end members of the frame.The adhering of the soap to the inner faces of the frame members createswaste areas on the sides and ends of the block of soap, necessitatingthe cutting down of the block, thereby creating a la go amount of wastematerial.

To obviate the difiiculties hereinbefore pointed out in the manufactureof soap, this invention has been devised for the purpose of providing animproved soap frame and a method. of treating the interior of certain ofthe frame members to provide an arrangemcnt whereby the frame housingmay be conveniently removed and lifted as a unit off of a block of soapto permit the block of soap to adhere and remain supported upon the soapframe truck bottom and affording an arrangement whereby adhering of thesoap to the inner faces of the side and end walls of the soap framehousing is entirely eliminated, thereby materially reducing the wastewhich is ordinarily encountered and furthermore affording an improvedarrangement permitting convenient, rapid removal of the frame unit froma block of soap after a saponification reaction has been'completed andthe soap has properly cooled. I

It is an object of this invention to provide an improved method wherebya soap frame housing may be removed as a unit from a block of soap andfrom the truck bottom supporting the block of soap by coating the innersurfaces of the soap frame housing with an adhesive salt solution priorto dopositing a soap emulsion from a crutcher into the soap frame.

It is also an object of this invention to provide an improved soap framewherein the inner surface of the members forming the soap frame housingare coated with an adhesive carrying salt solution to prevent the sidesof a block of soap from adhering to the inner surfaces of the side andend walls of the soap frame housing, so that, after the soap has beenformed and cooled, the housing may be removed as a unit,leaving theblock of soap supported on the soap frame bottom.

Another object of the invention is to provide an improved soap frame ofthe port-able type wherein a soap frame housing is adapted to beremovably clamped on a soap frame bottom, said housing being upwardlytapered and having the inner surfaces thereof painted with an adhesivecarrying salt solution which will have no chemioalreaction with the soapwithin the soap frame but will act to absorb water from the soap andafford a medium which will permit the tapered housing to be lifted fromthe soap and from the soap frame bottom. after the completion of thechemical reaction of the soap and the proper cooling of the soap withinthe soap frame; v

Still anotherobject of the invention is to provide an improved type ofsoap frame wherein the soap frame bottom or truck has removablysupported thereon a soap frame housing and cover, with the innersurfaces of the housing and cover painted with a solution which willadhere to the surfaces'of the housing and cover while the chemicalreaction of soap is taking place in the soap frame and permitting thecover and housing to be removed from a block of soap. after the properformation and coolingthereo'f without any of the soap adhering to hesurfaces of the housing and cover when remove It-is a further objectofthisinve'ntion to provide an improved type of portable soapframe'wherein a' tapered unitary soapfraine housing is adapted to beremovably clamped on a" soap frame truck bottom and wherein the housingis" provided with a clamped cover, wlth theinner surface of the coverand the inner surfaces of the soap frame housing having a coating. of ana-dheslve carryingsalt solution painted thereon to aiford'an arrangementwhereby thebloclr of soap formed within the soap. frame. during thereaction period .of the soap is permitted to slightly expand or bulgethe side and end walls of the soapframe housing, but eventuallypermitting the housing and cover to restrict the shape of the block ofsoap after the samehas cooled to the original configuration of theinterior'of the soap frame to produce a block of soap on the soap framebottom without waste areas after the soap frame cover and housing havebeen removedfrom the bottom, due to the coating of the inner wallsthereof with the, adhesive carrying salt solution. v

It'is-furthermore an object of this invention to provide an. improvedtype of portable soap frame wherein the soapfrainetruck bottom hasrem'ovably clamped thereon a soap frame housing provided with aremovable clamped cover, said housing and cover having the innersurfaces thereof coated with an adhesive carrying salt solution which 1snot affected by the chemical reaction taking place in the soap withinthe soap frame and permitting the cover and soap frame housing to beremoved from the bottom by simply lifting the same off of the block ofsoap, with the salt solution acting as a means to prevent adherence ofthe soap to the cover and walls of the housing, leaving the formedblockof soap intact and shaped tocorrespond with the interior of thesoap frame, with the bottom surface of the blockof soap adhering to thetop surface of the soap frame bottom to hold the block of soap'inposition thereon during the mechanical slabbing of the block of soap.

.It is an important object ofthis invention to provide an improved typeof portablesoap frame wherein the inner surfaces of a removable soapframe housing are adapted to be painted with an adhesive carrying saltsolution which will not react with the soap components or with thematerial with which the frame is made, and which will act, after thechemical reaction of soap has taken place and the soap has cooled, to.permit the soap frame housing to be readily lifted or removed from thebloclr of soap remaining on the soap frame bottom without permitting anyof the soap to adhere to the inner walls of the soap frame housing, toproduce a block of soap of a shape wherein the, amount of waste isreduced to a minimum and wherein the time required forthe removal of thehousing from the soap frame bottoin is materially reduced as is also theamount of labor required. 7

Other and further important objects of this invention will be apparentfrom the'disclosures in the specification and accompanydrawings.

The invention (in preferred form) is illustrated in the drawings andhereinafter more fully described.

On thedrawings; M i Figure 1 is a side elevation of a portable soapframe embodying the principles of this invention.

Figure 2 frame.-

Figure 3 is a top plan view of the soap frame .Fig ure is an enlargedfragmentary detailed section taken'on line IV JV of Figure 1, with partsshownin elevation.

Figure 5 is a verticalsectionalfview taken thro the soap frame andillustrating an is anend elevation of the soap average cross-sectionalview ,of'the formed block ofsoap, with the expanded waste section at theupperend; V

Flgure 6 1s a vertical sectional view of a modified form of portablesoap frame pro- .vided with a clamped cover;

I is a fragmentary side elevational View ofithe upper portion of themodified form of soap frame illustrated in Figure 6.

As shown on the drawings:

The reference numeral 1 indicates a soap frame platform or bottomconstructed of wood or other suitable material which is supported ontruck wheels 2 to provide a portable soap frame bottom. The platform orframe bottom 1 is provided with a pcripheral groove 3 in the upperportion thereof. Removably secured in the outer portion of theperipheral groove 3 by means of countersunk screws 4 or the like are aplurality of spaced retaining blocks 5 having inclined inner surfaces 6,as illustrated in Figure 4, which are spaced from the inclined surfaces7 of the groove 3 to afford dovetailed grooves in the top surface of thesoap frame bottom for the reception of lead or soft metal dovetailedcross-sectioned bars 8 having smooth, level top surfaces positioned ashort distance below the top level of the soap frame bottom and theretaining blocks 5, as clearly illustrated in Figure 4. The side and endmargins of the soap frame bottom 1 are provided with a plurality ofnotches 9 with which the ends of the retaining blOCl-IS 5 register toafford notches or openings around the soapframe bottom, as clearlyillustrated in Figure 3.

Removably seated upon the lead or soft metal bars 8 of the soap framebottom are the lower tapered or chamfered edges 10 of the side walls 11and end walls 12 which are integrally connected to form a continuoussheet steel upwardly tapered soap frame housing having rigidly securedperipherally thereon at different elevations a plurality of reinforcingangle iron ribs 13. Rigidly secured to the upper section of the soapframe housing between the two upper reinforcing ribs 13 are a pluralityof spaced reinforcing auxiliary angle bars or braces 14 to strengthenthe upper portion of the soap frame housing to facilitate removal of thesame from thesoap frame bottom, as hereinafter more fully described. Thesheet metal soap frame housing is constructed so that the side and endwalls thereof are integrally connected and continuous, and said wallsare slightly inclined upwardly toward one another to afford a taperedhood or housing adapted to be handled as a unit. The outwardlyprojecting or horizontal flange of the lowermost reinforcing rib 13 isprovided with a plurality of spaced openings 15 (Fig. 4)

through which a plurality of swingable clamping bolts 16 are engaged.The clamping bolts 16, when the nuts thereof are loosened, are adaptedto be swung inwardly to engage through the notches 9 of, the soap framebottom, after which the nuts on the bolts are adapted to be tightened,to cause the soap frame housing to be pulled downwardly and tightlyclamped in position with the lower tapered edges 10 of the soap frameside and end walls seating or cutting into the top surface of the leador soft metal bars 8 to afford a liquid-tight or non-leakable jointbetween the lower edges of the soap frame housing and the soap framebottom. \Vhile clamping bolts are illustrated and described as used forthe purpose of clamping the soap frame housing on the soap frame bottom,it will, of course, be understood that any other desired type ofclamping means may be used for the purpose of securing the soap framehousing in position on the soap frame bottom.

The improved soap frame is constructed to receive a mixture of soapforming ingredients in required proportions which have been thoroughlymixed in a crutcher until a permanent soap emulsion is formed. Thepermanent emulsion which is deposited in the soap frame is permitted tohave a saponification reaction take place within the frame where thetemperature of the mixture rises, due to the chemical reaction, causingthe soap mixture to expand above the top end of the soap frame housing,as illustrated in Figure 5, with the projecting section or portionadapted to crack during the cooling action of the soap. During thecooling action of the emulsion within the soap frame, the block of soapwhich is gradually being formed has a tendency to shrink away from theside and end walls of the housing to provide slightly concave surfaces17 similar to the exaggerated showing in Figure lVhen the block of soapis finally cooled and formed, these concave surfaces are reduced andagain approach the inner surfaces of the soap frame housing.

To permit the use of the improved tapered soap frame housing so that thesame may be removed from the soap frame bottom as a unit, the innersurfaces of the soap frame housing are adapted to bc painted or coveredwith a solution which will not react with the soap components or withthe material of which the frame is made.

The solution used in painting the inner sur 1 faces of the walls of thesoap frame housing is a non-saponifiable mixture, the component parts ofwhich will not react with the materials forming the soap emulsion. Thissolution is provided with quantity of glue or other suitable adhesivematerial such as dextrine, gelatin or a gum which are not affected bysalt.

A satisfactory solution or mixture for painting the inner surfaces ofthe soap frame housing is obtainable by using a mixture consisting of:

Kilograms Water 8.0 Glue (sizing) 3.5 Salt 3.5 Tri-sodium phosphate 0.5.A.lcoliol 0.5 Glycerine 1.0

In the above mixture, the glue may be any adhesive material, such asdextrine, gelatin or gum, which is not affected by salt. The purpose ofsupplying the glue to the mixture is to'afford a means for firmlyholdingthe salt solution on the inner surfaces of the soap frame housing duringthe filling of the soap frame with a soap emulsion and during thechemical react-ion which takes place in the soap emulsion while it ispermitted to remain inthe soap, frame to form a block of soap. The saltsolution provided on the inner sur- 7 faces of the soap frame housingalso affords furthermore permits the curved or concave surfaces to againexpand outwardly after the chemical reaction period and atthe end of thecooling period of the soap, so that the block of soap in its final formis substantially.

the same, as the shape ofthe interior of the soap frame with a portionof the soap proeCting upwardly above the top of the same to form thecracked section 'or portion 18 which .is eventually adapted to be cut orsliced OK at the top of the blockof soap when the same is-finally passedthrough a slabbing or cutting machine. The salt used in the solution forpainting the inner surfaces of the soap frame housing may be sodiumchloride orany other salt'or electrolyte which will not react with thesoap components or with the material of which the frame is constructed.

The salt solution is adapted to be applied orpainted on the innersurfaces of the soap frame housing to afford a lining or coating 19 ofnon-saponifiable material to which the soap will not adhere.

'Attentionis also called. to the fact that, in the salt solution used,any other alkaline salt may be used in place of the tri-sodium )hosohate such as soda ash.

' It has also been found that solutions or 3 mixtures of unsaponifiableor slowly. saponifiable fats and waxesmay be used with varying degreesof success. These fats andwaxes "I maybeuse'd as mixtures or as simplesingle oils. A mixture whichcan be used is com-- posed of Vaseline,mineral oil and paraffin.

Figures 6 and 7 illustrate a modified form soap frame in which the soapframe bottom and the housing areconstructed substantially the same asthe bottom and housing illustrated and described in connection withFigures 1 to 5, inclusive, and similar reference numerals for like partsare, therefore, used. In this form of the device, the removable housingis provided with a steel coverplate 20 having afwood backing 21. Thecover is adapted to be inserted inthe upper end of the soap framehousing and is adapted to be engaged by clamping bolts 22 which arecarried by clamping straps or bars 23, the ends of which are curled orhookshapedto permit the same to be engaged beneath the horizontalflanges of the upper re inforcing ribs 13, as clearly illustrated inFigure -6. This arrangement permits the screws 22 to be tightened tomove the cover downwardly against the top surface of the block of soap 2f within the soap frame.

When the cover 21 isremoved from the soap frame housing, the innersurfaces of the side and end walls of the soap frame housing are coatedor painted with the salt solution, the glue contained in the samecausing the solution to adhere to the inner surfaces of the soap framehousing to provide a lining or coating 19. 1 a

A permanent soap emulsion from a crutcher is now adapted to be depositedin the soap frame housing which is clamped in position on the soap framebottom, andthe saponification reaction is permitted to take. place untilthe soap emulsion has become sufficiently thick or; consistent tosupport the cover 21. Before the cover isinserted into the upper end ofthe soap frame housing, the bottom surfaceof the metal cover plate 20 isprovided witha coating or lining of saltsolution 25 to prevent the soapfrom adhering to the cover. The clamping bars 23 are next engaged inposition on the top ribs 13- of the soap frame housing and the clampingscrews 22 aretightened to lower the cover into compression engagementwiththe top surface of the soap within the soap frame housing.

The saponification reaction is adapted to a be completed in the soapframe, and, in view of the use. of the cover arrangement, the

rising temperature of the mixture and the expansion thereof actstoshghtly bulge the side and end walls of the soap frame housingoutwardly similar to the showing illustrated vin Figure 6. After thesaponification reaction has been completed and the formed block of soaphas cooled off, the soap contracts an amount sufficient to permit theside and endwalls of'the soap frame housing to move back into theirnormal positionsso that the block of soap which'is finally formed is ofsubstantiallythe same shape. as the interior of the covered soap framehousing.

' Nith this improved arrangement, there is no waste-crackecl'area formedat the top of the block of soap nor are there any waste hollow areasformed at the sides or the ends of the block of soap, so that waste iseli1nimoved through a slabbing machine to be cutinto slabs, bars or thelikewith a minimum of waste. 7

After the soap has been formed in the soap frame housing and is prop rlycooled, the clamping devices 22 and 23 are removed from the top of thehousing and the cover is lifted off of the top of the block of soap.This is done without any of the soap adhering to the cover, in view ofthe fact that the under surface of the cover has been coated withcovering of the salt solution hereinbefore described. After the coverhas been removed, lifting mechanisms of any desired type may be appliedto the upper portion of the soap frame housing and the entire soap framehousing may be lifted as a unit upwardly off of the block of soap, dueto the fact that the inner surfaces of the housing have been paintedwith a coating of the saltsolution. The block of soap remains securelyupon the soap frame bottom 1 for the reason that the soap frame bottomupper surface is not coated with the salt solution. The lifting of thesoap frame housing is, of course, done after the clamping bolts 16 havebeen released and swung out of engagement with the soap frame bottom.

While a unitary type of soap frame housing has been illustrated anddescribed, with or without a clamping cover, will, of course, beunderstood that the improved method permitting release of the soap framehousing from a block of soap by coating the inner surfaces of thehousing with a salt solution of the type described may be applied tosoap frames of the old type comprising the removable sides and ends, aswell as to any other desired forms of soap frames. The improved methodprovides a convenient and rapid method whereby the saponificationoperation in the manufacture of soap may be accomplished with a materialsaving in time and labor and with a substantial reduction in the amountof waste soap produced.

It will, of course, be understood that many details of construction andmany changes in the composition of the salt solution used may be madewithout departing from the principles of this invention, and it is,therefore, not purposed to limit the patent granted hereon otherwisethan necessitated by the scope of the appended claims.

I claim as my invention:

1. A soap frame comprising a truck bottom, a housing having inclinedwalls removably supported thereon, and acoating of nonsaponitiable matr'al applied to the inner surfaces of said housing to obviate theadhercnee of soap to said housing.

2. The combination with a tapered soap frame, of a coating for the innersurfaces of the Walls of the soap frame adapted to obviate the adherenceof soap to the soap frame to facilitate removal of the walls of the soapframe without damage to the block of soap formed within the soap frame.

3. The combination with a soap frame bottom, of a tapered soap farmehousing engaged thereon and having the inner surf; ces thereof coatedwith an adhesive carrying salt solution.

l. A soap frame Conn arising a soap frame bottom, a tapered soap framehens 1g thereon, moans f r clamping the soap frame housing in po ion onsaid bottom, a cover for removable insertion in said soap frame housing,means for removably clamping the cover in position, and a covering forthe inner surfaces of the walls of said housing and the inner surface ofsaid cover, said covering consisting of a non-saponitiable mixtureadapted to obviate the adherence of soap to the inner surfaces of thesoap frame housing and the soap frame cover.

5. The combination with a soap frame bot-tom, of a soap frame housingadapted to be removably clamped thereon, said housing having inclinedwalls and a coating of a salt solution applied to the inner surfacesthereof to obviate the adherence of soap to said surfaces.

6. A soap frame comprising a soap frame bottom having a groove in thetop thereof,

soft metal bars laid in said groove, a soap 1;

frame housing having the lower edges there of chamfered and seated onsaid soft metal bars, and means for clamping the soap frame housing tothe soap frame bottom to cause the chamfered lower edges of the soapframe i housing to cut into said soft metal. bars to form a non-leakableoint between the housing and said bottom.

7. A soap frame con'iprising a portable H soap frame bottom having aperipheral groove therein, soft metal bars s ated in said groove,clamping members rigidly secured to said bottom for securely holdingsaid soft metal bars in place, a soap frame housing,

and means for clamping the soap frame housing to said bottom with thelower edges of the housing engaging said bars to form nonleakable jointsbetween the housing and said bottom.

8. A soap frame comprising a soap frame bottom having a groove therein,a soft metal frame inlaid therein, a soap frame housing having knifeblade edges at the lower end thereof adapted to seat on said soft metalinlaid frame, and clamping means for cl'ainping the soap frame housingon said soap frame bottom with the knife blade edges of the housingcutting into the soft metal inlaid frame to form a leakproof jointbetween the frame and said bottom.

9. A soap frame comprising a portable bottom having a peripheral groovetherein. a soft metal frame seated in said groove, a plurality ofclamping blocks rigidly secured to said bottom for clamping said softmetal.

' 55 housing and said bottom.

frame inposition a unitary soap frame hous- I ing having a cutting edgeat the lower end thereof adapted to seat on said soft metal frame, acoating of an adhesive carrying salt solution painted on the innersurfaces of said soap frame housing to obviate adherence of soapthereto, and clamping means between said housing and said bottom fortightly clamping the housing with the knife blade lower edge thereofcutting into the soft metal frame to provide a tight no-n-leakable jointbetween the housing and said bottom.

10. A soap frame comprising a portable bottom, a tapered unitary housingsupported on said bottom, and means for clamping the tapered unitaryhousing on said bottom to cause the housing to interfit with the bottomand form a non-leakable joint. between the housing and said bottom.

1 1. A soap frame comprising a bottom, a housing mounted thereon andcomprising continuous integrally connected inclined side and end walls,and means for clamping "the housing-on said bottom to provide anonleakable joint'between the housing and the bottom. r Y

12. A soap frame comprising a bottom having. notches in the marginsthereof, a housing supported on said bottom and comprising continuousintegrally connected in-- clined' side and end walls, and clampingmembers carried by said housing and. adapted to be engaged in'thenotches of said bottom and tightened to hold the housing clamped inposition upon the bottom to pro: vide a non-leaking jo nt between thehousing and the bottom 13. The combination with tapered soap framehousing, of a salt solution painted on the inner surfaces of thehousing. and means in the salt solution for causing the same to adhereto the walls of the housing toobviate adherence of soap to the walls ofthe housing and to facilitate removal of the tapered housing from thesoap after the completion of the soap formmg process.

14. A soap frame comprising a bottom, a

' tapered housing supported thereon and havmg the inner surfaces thereofcovered with a coatingof, an adhesive carrying non-saponifiable saltsolution, and means for clamping the tapered housing on said bottom to Tcause the housing to interfit with the bottom and form a non-leakablejoint between the 15. A soap frame comprising a bottom, a

. tapered housing supported thereon and hav- 0.5 kilograms and glycerine1.0 kilograms.

In testimonywhereof I have hereunto subscribed my name at Chicago, Cookcounty,

Illinois.

' ELMER R. LUCKOWV.

